Dept defends ex-MEC's home upgrade

Johannesburg - The Gauteng department of local government and housing has defended its position on the money spent upgrading its former MEC's house.

"It must be noted that the audit report is a supplementary report to the financial statements, therefore it recommends, not instructs.

"Therefore, the MEC [Ntombi Mekgwe] is not defying any instruction, but considering the recommendation in the light of practicalities," said departmental spokesperson Motsamai Motlhaolwa.

On Wednesday, The Star reported that Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane had endorsed the renovations at former MEC Humphrey Mmemezi's private home in Krugersdorp.

The renovations, which cost R700 000, included an upgrade of the security and of a wall.

In a reply to a question by the Democratic Alliance in the legislature, Mekgwe said the cost would not be recovered because it was part of a certain standard benefit which members of the executive council had, the newspaper reported.

Auditor General Terence Nombembe had found that the department did not follow proper procedures when it appointed Payless Projects to renovate Mmemezi's home.

Nombembe recommended that action be taken against those involved.

Motlhaolwa said recommendations for the upgrade were not made by the Mokonyane herself, but by her office through the director general.

"The department have an audit action plan to address, which is addressing some of the findings," he said.

Comments

dee.bone.39 - 2012-11-21 23:07

not another one!!!

PointBlank - 2012-11-21 23:11

there is so much more...

Jack - 2012-11-22 01:15

Dear Premier,
Could I please also have a big wall and security around my house?
I know you can leverage off your previous experience and I trust you will do
a good job, thereby improving the value of my home.
Thanks so much.
Mr. Taxpayer

Jack - 2012-11-22 01:18

Dear Premier,
PS.
Will I have to pay tax on this? Please advise.
Mr. Taxpayer

squeegee.pilot - 2012-11-22 05:53

Every day corruption, or should that be corruption every day...?

tw2066 - 2012-11-22 06:16

No no ... he hs got the bond .... Like James Bond ... but borrowed the money ... and his family ... bla blah blahhh. THIEVES!!!!!!!!!!

kala.bafazi - 2012-11-22 09:11

And these punks are rubbing their hands in glee as the coffers start filling up at the end of the tax season.

SharonE - 2012-11-21 23:21

Better watch out, ANC!!! The people are watching you. Marikana, Lenasia, Etolls, Nkandla - The chargesheet is getting longer.
You tell children they cannot look forward to proper schools for the forseeable future, yet there is lots of money to spend on yourselves!!
You know the people - forget about being beaten at the polls, you will be beaten in the streets with fire and riots. That is how the people of South Africa show their unhappiness and vent their frustrations.
Just see if I am wrong!!!

dennis.vermaak.5 - 2012-11-22 05:05

Sharon, we see that but the sheeple do not !!For a free t shirt and a piece of chicken, they will vote anc !!

Mike - 2012-11-22 06:58

I believe that it's time to stop burning things like tyres, libraries, houses and buses and to start burning these corrupt thieving bastards instead: maybe THAT will get their attention !!

WHY? Why would any government, no matter where in the world, why would they agree to pay for a former employee to have his private home upgraded? What info does this man have on his ANC buddies that they would agree to this? Every day more corruption is exposed within the ANC. It's time to bring back the death penalty and start shooting these f*ckers for treason.

beverly.young3 - 2012-11-22 07:18

This amount of money could build 10 RDP houses down here...the land is free, the water is free and there are electrical 'pay as you go connections' installed. Is one allowed to ask about faairness? Oh my

zolisa.dlokovu - 2012-11-22 01:32

Corruption Democracy African National Crime - Poverty

willem.v.hoven - 2012-11-22 02:03

What a racist report. The only reason why the name of this gentleman is mentioned is to depict him as a black person.... and therefore ???

rontheogre - 2012-11-22 02:18

Yes, because the picture was no good as a clue as these racists do not base their prejudice on colour, but a name?

rodney.bevan.58 - 2012-11-22 03:33

Have you lost your sanity? the reason his name is mentioned is because once he has been charged with an offence, it is in the public domain and therefore accessible to all so no point in covering it up. I'm struggling to understand your logic here, no matter how stupid I try to be, i still can't fathom it.

phahla.matwa - 2012-11-22 07:26

Its racism laughing out loud.

phahla.matwa - 2012-11-22 07:30

They dnt knw hw 2 steal. Stupid x mec

Erna - 2012-11-22 02:39

Question - why does work done on anc members' houses always cost so much more than other people's alterations?

beverly.young3 - 2012-11-22 08:30

'cos there are so many people who have to paid off.......lol!

isaac.hlalele.3 - 2012-11-22 02:45

Tokyo Sexwale, 'Mr. Extraodinary Clean' can you comment please on that trash please?

roger.kaputnick.90 - 2012-11-22 03:42

Yadda,yadda,yadda....why don't you just stfu Megwe!

theMichaelHawthorne - 2012-11-22 04:00

We don't give n twirt whether he is black... what boils my blood is that he's anc... I p!ss on anyone support anc or claiming to be their members/supporter.... madiba is turning in his grave about this...

johnny.august.31 - 2012-11-22 04:11

Haaaaai sies man How can a living person turn inside a GRAVE wow u Soo ignorant

liam.doherty.334 - 2012-11-22 04:49

Eh? Mandela not dead?What planet you on?

Willie Olivier - 2012-11-22 05:26

My friend, I've got news for you! this is only the beginning. They are going to continue steeling because they truly believe its their right, till their is nothing left to steal, then they are going to start stealing from each other! And then the tribal wars is going to start. It,s in their nature!

theMichaelHawthorne - 2012-11-22 04:02

Oh and show me one south african boertjie, china or coulered that has benefitted from corrupt anc antics....

johnny.august.31 - 2012-11-22 04:09

Majority of our Poorly paid Civil servants cannot afford to buy or build a decent house Whereas so called politicians are Spending our taxes to Renovate houses at a cost of 700 0 000 ,This is disgusting n heartbreaking

joe.irwin.50 - 2012-11-22 04:29

These rogues just never stop, and why should they when they always seem to get away with it.
Another thing we must take note of is that every upgrade to a rogues property is 3 to 4 times the price of the quotes we can get for our properties.
Cash going into the back pocket also???

Don.Tandy - 2012-11-22 07:21

Its called the tender process - the job goes to the highest ranking ANCorruption bidder, who is also invariably also the highest bidder.

brionyl.french - 2012-11-22 04:59

I wish people would stop defending peoples wrong doings and I wish people would stop rewarding these bottom feeders for doing what they doing. They are breaking the law, ALL money should be taken away and donated to the poor and then they are tried and sent to prison. simple! They shouldnt be allowed to walk with the man in the street or drive a fancy car they should be in orange sweeping streets and cleaning the liter out of rivers.

Asdiedamwalbars - 2012-11-22 05:29

It look's like these days it's another status symbol to want to upgrade their houses with the cost of the taxpayers..and that trend goes down from Gov to the municipality sub-ordiantes. Only difference is the millions spend show which suborinate is employed in the more or less important job...it is shameless.

thembinkosi.jozie - 2012-11-22 05:40

Now when r the bulldozers going to demolish that house? Or they fight corruption only in Lenasia?

lynne.barker.7 - 2012-11-22 05:41

If only the rural people who live in little shacks could read and UnDeRsTaNd that the ANC is only doing everything for themselves - this govt is deteriorating by the DaY. It is absolutely shocking the money they spend on themselves and Mac Maharaj is such an arrogant person - only making sure he gets his share when he speaks on behalf of the govt.

raymond.kok3 - 2012-11-22 05:43

oh man its a free for all how many are there that we do not know of thats why they are so hell bend on passing the media info bill ,to hide this theft and corruption

jerome.appollis.1 - 2012-11-22 05:54

R700k!!!!! Die mense is regtig baie jargs om so ons tax te mors

glen.e.huysamer - 2012-11-22 06:22

I wonder which 'cousin' owns Payless Projects and how much they are charging for a bag of cement?
R700 000 for a wall......
that is 10 RDP houses at over R60 000 per unit....
yep.....if these politicians keep fleecing public money they better make sure that these walls they keep building for themselves are strong.

sefako.mokgalaka - 2012-11-22 06:29

This whole thing confirms to me that our government places too much emphasis on officials than on citizens.

eland.snitbul - 2012-11-22 06:42

Ridiculous... the money could have been used to build 50+ RDP houses or used to aid the people without food or water... instead they rather upgrade a former employee... Their view of an audit report is actually quite funny, although it is only a supplementary report it still needs to be unqualified and still needs to reflect no findings of this sort... no wonder the municipalities are qualified on a yearly basis for the same problems over and over again.

Benjamin - 2012-11-22 06:50

"part of a certain standard benefit which members of the executive council had"
Oh ok I didn't know that.... you should have told us in the begining. So it's standard practice for them to all spend R700 000 on themselves...Well in that makes it all ok then cos we are all idiots and we don't mind at all.

Don.Tandy - 2012-11-22 07:14

Tip of the iceberg - I think we are only seeing a very small part of what is going on with the ANCorruption.
Anarchy Nepotism Corruption - business as usual on the gravy train.

Gary.desousa7 - 2012-11-22 07:24

So now the Auditor General can only "recommend" and the gravy train slurps on.....

robert.starke.98 - 2012-11-22 07:25

ANC corruption again at its best, dont care about following procedure. Everybody else (as the public) has to, but these bloody politicians think they are a cut above the rest, but all they are is criminals !!!

terrylee.heuer - 2012-11-22 07:28

Mekgwe said the cost would not be recovered because it was part of a certain standard benefit which members of the executive council had....I think its time Parliament discuss the benefits these MEC's have, the Govt is unstoppable when it comes to money and spending!!! They just have no shame and are extremely spoilt at the expense of the taxpayer!!!! Nevermind the fact that he is an ex MEC!!!

phahla.matwa - 2012-11-22 07:34

Down wit info bill down

john.thelps - 2012-11-22 07:44

Nice to steal the money we work so hard for.
These idiots have not done a days honest work, that is why it is so easy to squander. They do not what it feels like to sweat to put food on the table.

ingrid.oberholzer - 2012-11-22 07:48

Mogali City wasted R20 million during the world cup so this is chubb change, so what's the fuss, this cadre will get a pardon and moved into a higher paid position and all will be forgiven. Manga, Manga is around the corner and JZ will be voted in and us the tax payer will just keep on paying.

Mathabo Maphosa - 2012-11-22 07:54

these people are thieves plain and simple

rouen.heiberg - 2012-11-22 08:40

The only struggle in this country was for a seat on the gravytrain.

andrew.mackie.90 - 2012-11-22 08:45

Have these people no shame!! Just about every household has had to tighten their belts and they the government continue to spend exhorbitant amounts of money upgrading private residences with public funds. In this case the Premier authorised this expenditure, she also recently upgraded her residence costing taxpayers many thousands. Just proves they dont really care but only look after themselves.

suash - 2012-11-22 09:17

700000 for a wall and a security system??? This guy must be so special for so much money to be spent on him

marc.ross.965 - 2012-11-22 09:22

And the Majority will vote ANC again. And then protest about service delivery. And then vote ANC again on and on and on.So instead of getting upset I just laugh, I laugh at people still living in shacks. I laugh at people who who die waiting for a doctor while lying in a pool of blood in filthy hospitals.Ha ha ha. Suffer you idiots suffer.

jon.jones.90663894 - 2012-11-22 09:31

Why the need for the security ?. I mean crime is going down according to the ANC and concern about crime is a 'white tendency'. Ne ?.

Hemlock - 2012-11-22 11:48

Any excuse to cover up how bloody corrupt these creeps are......it's disgusting!

flysouth - 2012-11-22 13:04

Corruption in the ANC is endless.

cwboshoff - 2012-11-22 14:42

My god, i can't even afford to buy a house at the moment, and government goes off spending almost a mil on "upgrades" to an employees house.... WTF!!!! I'm better off than most low income people so I can just imagine how they feel about this waste of taxpayers money